Lezhnevo

Historical information
Accommodation    Situated in 27 km on the motor road from the regional center Ivanovo, in 2 km from the highway Ivanovo - Vladimir - Moscow. It stands on the high bank of the river Ukhtokhma and attracts attention by a wonderful architectural ensemble of St. Trinity-Znamenskaya church with 76-meter tower.
    The first historical documents say that Lezhnevo was a palace village, i.e. belonged to aristocracy. Thus it was granted by tsar Fiodor Ivanovich as a property to widowed wife of the Lithuanian king Magnus, the daughter of prince V.A.Staritsky, the cousin of Tsar Ivan VI. After the death of the king queen Maria Vladimirovna returned to Lezhnevo and built Znamensky Nunnery there, where she was made consecrate as a nun (took the vale) under the name of Marfa by the order of Tsar Boris Godunov. At the end of 17-19 centuries Lezhnevo passed to prince Dolgoruky, whose family owned it until 1845.
    In the 17 century Lezhnevo was a rich trade village. Big fairs were organized twice a year there, a lot of people of nearby villages and towns visited it. Canvas production and cooperage were developed.
    Alongside with goods big stocks of animals were driven through Lezhnevo from the Volga. Cowboys stopped there for pasturage and watering. The meadows were strewed with salt for sheep, that’s why salt sale was very active in the village.
    Weaving and printed cloth production were especially developed in Lazhnevo. Handmade printing of cloth preserved longer then in other places. There was the so called “crimson” factory, where even dyeing of cloth in crimson color was made. The first manufactures appeared in Lezhnevo in 1788. They survived until the end of 18 century. In 1789 the fourth canvas manufacture appeared, in 1791 and 1792 merchant A.S.Kokoushkin from Shuya founded his manufacture. In 100 years it became a huge factory “Cooperative of Lezhnevskaya Manufacture”. In 1797 there were 5 canvas factories in the village. The Lezhnevo peasants were busy with agriculture.
    In 1835 A.Kokoushkin founded a cotton printed factory, and in 1840 canvas factories were replaced by calico factories.
    In the middle of 1850s there were 3 calico factories in Lezhnevo. There were 4 dyeing factories and 2 chemical plans also.
    By the end of 19 century Lezhnevo turned completely into a factory village, i.e. into proletarian center. In 1894 a spinning mill was built in Lazhnevo. It contributed to the demand for workers. In 1897 there were 2,739 inhabitants in Lezhnevo.
    By the end of 19 century 14 nearest villages became industrial settlements.
    In the 20s of the 19 century a perish school was opened in Lezhnevo, but in 1847 it was closed because of money shortage. Since 1925 Lezhnevo is a working settlement of Ivanovo region and since 1985- the center of the Lezhnevsky region.